Can this be right? Purchasing airmiles, anyone done it?

[coastgirl]

So we are doing everything we can to collect airmiles. Am just 200 short of two tickets to Orlando in the low season iwth our BOM Mosaik MC. (Only 1400 per.) But we are 4, and the other two tickets from YHZ would still be $1500+.

Was poking around on the site and found this.

Don't have enough reward miles?
Not to worry, the cost to purchase additional reward miles is only 30 cents plus GST per reward miles. If you have just half of the required reward miles for your flight, you can purchase the remainder.

So...if I had 2800 miles (two full tickets or four half tickets I could buy another 2800 miles to complete the 4 tickets? That would only be $840 (plus GST), considerably less than the $1500 for two tickets. Ya think??

Anybody done or tried to do this?

JoAnne in NS

 

[pxlbarrel]

The only time that I've cashed in my air miles was years ago when I didn't have enough miles to get to Atlanta...so i bought the few miles I needed. It was still cheaper than just buying a ticket.

I'm not sure that your math will work (it works on paper but it depends on their definition of half a ticket fare....do they consider it 2 full tickets or half of 4 tickets?)

Give them a call and then let us know...cause that's pretty good info to share.

 

[DutchsMommy]

The .30 per airmiles is correct. I was short about 200 for the ticks I bought on Friday and bought them outright. It's very easy and painless. But...I think you would have to use your Miles on the 2 full tickets first and then whatever is left over would be considered towards the 50% rule. But I think you should call Airmiles to make sure - wouldn't hurt right! Good luck.

Also, don't forget you still need to pay taxes etc on the tickets you buy with Airmiles (approx $160/ticket) and there is GST on the .30 Airmiles you purchase. So, the difference might not be as much as you had originally thought.

 

[mbb]

There you go Good info, folks

For all y'all Aeroplan users out there, AC will "let" you purchase add'l points as well.
Price of Aeroplan Miles
Aeroplan Miles For only* Aeroplan Miles For only*
1,000 $40 9000 $360
2,000 $80 10000 $400
3,000 $120 11000 $440
4,000 $160 12000 $480
5,000 $200 13000 $520
6,000 $240 14000 $560
7,000 $280 15000 $600


Love how they say "for only.."

 

[deany]

Where are you flying from? (I don't know the airport code off hand) $1500 for 2 tickets seems pretty steep. We are flying from Seattle to Orlando and got a price of $335 each, taxes included.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I think that's a really good deal. Westjet was around $500 each from Toronto to Orlando!

 

[coastgirl]

Where are you flying from? (I don't know the airport code off hand) $1500 for 2 tickets seems pretty steep. We are flying from Seattle to Orlando and got a price of $335 each, taxes included.

Halifax. Nothing is ever cheap from Halifax! At least there's a little more competition now, but what I'm seeing is about $350 each way. I am totally committed to waiting for a seat sale and am watching *EVERYTHING* I can, but that's what I get now...

 

[Tinkershelly]

Halifax. Nothing is ever cheap from Halifax! At least there's a little more competition now, but what I'm seeing is about $350 each way. I am totally committed to waiting for a seat sale and am watching *EVERYTHING* I can, but that's what I get now...

Try checking the airline websites directly, not just expedia and travelocity because sometimes there are big differences. I have flown Continental and Delta exclusively to the US from Halifax for the past 6 or 7 years and they are always cheaper than AC, especially if you don't need to fly on the weekend.

On Continental's site just change the country in the bottom left side of the home page to Canada and the prices will be in Canadian dollars. When you put in your dates check the box to look for dates +/- a day to see if that matters. We have gotten fares for as little as $420 CAD return including taxes for early December so keep checking and good luck.

 

[Lizziejane]

Coastgirl, try this website: sidestep.com
It "shops" dozens of different websites to find you the best deal. I just ran a quick Halifax to Orlando in September search, and it came up with $413 on Northwest. I'm presuming that's US, but still, way cheaper than $1500 for just 2 tix. By the way, that's cheaper than flying from Winnipeg!

 

[coastgirl]

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I have some time to check things out so I know a good deal when I see it when they come out for winter. Or maybe muster a few more points...We have decided to go in late Jan/early Feb. and I'm going to make hotel ressies so we can make those ADRs...this time we're all going to the castle!!